Force-feed for grain-elevators



(No Model.)

S. M. GRAUMLICH.

FORGE FEED FOR GRAIN ELEVATORS.

No. 366,476. Patented July 12, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMOL M. GRAUMLIOH, OF DUVALL STATION, OHIO.

FORCE-FEED FOR GRAIN-ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,476, dated July 12, 1887. Application filed March 23, 1887. Serial No. 232,063. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SOLOMON M. GRAUM- LIOH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Duvall Station, in the county of Pickaway and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Force- Feeds; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a feedhopper, in which my invention is mounted in its operative position, the side of the hopper being removed to better illustrate the arrangement of the several parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line a: .r, Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line y 1 Fig. 2.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in an improved forcefeed for the hoppers or dumps of grainelevators, which will effectually prevent the mouth of the hopper from choking, and also prevent an arch from forming over the feedroller proper; and my invention will be here inafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A indicates a hopper of ordinary construction having the inwardly-sloping walls and the discharge opening or mouth B at its lower end. Across and in this mouth 13 is mounted on a transverse shaft, 0, the feed-roller D, which is formed on its sides with the longitudinal ribs,

D, for the purpose of feeding the grain down through the mouth and preventing it from clogging the same, and on the outer projecting end of the roller-shaft O is secured a pulley, 0, around which passes a suitable drive-belt, O,which rotatesthe feed-roller. At a suitable distance above this feed-roller is secured within the hopper, to the side walls thereof, a transverse or cross beam, E, which is preferably arranged transversely across the feed-roller, as shown, and upon the central part of this beam, immediately above the feed-roller, is secured a metal box or casting, F, which is preferably cast in two halves or sections, and

which has the central space, F, and the upper and lower vertical apertures or bearings, F F. Through these bearings extends a perpendicular shaft, G, both the lower and upper ends of which are curved or bent over at nearly right angles, and each end of this shaft is also pro vided with two curved transverse arms, G G, which upon the central part of this shaft, which is inclosed within the metal box, is rigidly mounted a miter-wheel, H.

Through one side of the hopper, and also through a bearing in one side ofthe metal box F, passes a transverse shaft, I, which is pro vided at its inner end with a miter-wheel, I, which meshes with the miter-wheel 011 the central part of the perpendicular shaft G, while the outer end of this shaft I is provided with a pulley, 1 around which passes adrive band or belt,- J, from the feed-roller shaft 0, by which means the shaft I is rotated. That portion of the shaft I between the metal box F and the inner face or side of the wall of the hopper,through which it passes,isformed with two square cranks, l, for the purpose hereinafter specified.

Through the opposite wall of the hopper to that through which the shaft I passes extends a second transverse shaft, K, the inner end of,

which passes through a bearing in that side of the metal box F, and has rigidly secured on its inner extremity a miter-wheel, K which meshes with the miter-wheel on the center of the perpendicular shaft G, and the central part of this shaft K, between the metal box F and the side of the hopper, is formed withtwo square cranks,K,similar to those of the shalt I.

In the frame L, immediately below the mouth of the hoppeigis journaled,iu bearings,

a transverse shaft, M, around which passes the lower end of a suitable elevator-belt, the cups of which are thus carried immediately beneath the discharge-mouthof the hopper to receive the grain fed down through the same, in the usual manner, and as this elevatorchain, with its cups, is of ordinary construe tion and forms no part of my present invention, I will not describe them in detail.

In operation the shaft of the feed-roller is revolved through the drivebelt 0 from a suitable source of power aud it will be seen that the ribbed feed roller will effectually force and feed thegrain surrounding it down through 7 the mouth of the hopper intothe cups of the elevator chain or belt. At the same time the transverse shaft I will be rotated through the drive-belt J from the feed-roller shaft, andas it is rotated the miter-wheel, on its inner end meshing with the miter-wheel secured on the central portion of the perpendicular feed-shaft G, will revolve the said perpendicular shaft, and the curved pointed upper and lower ends of the said shaft, and also the curved transverse arms G near its upper and lower end,wil1 stir and agitate the grain and feed it down upon the feed-roller. At the same time the miterwheel K on the inner end of the other transverse shaft, K, meshing with the miter-wheel on the center of the perpendicular shaft- G, the said shaft K will be rotated in unison with the shaft I, and the projecting cranks of the said two transverse shafts will operate in conjunction with the bent ends and curved transverse arms of the perpendicular shaft G to gently stir the grain in the hopper, and thus while feeding itregularly down upon the feedroller will effectually prevent the grain from forming an arch of compact grain above the feed-roller, which it would otherwise do.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.-

My improved force-feed apparatus is simple and strong in construction, and therefore not liable to break or get out of order in any manner, and is exceedingly effective in its operation, as it will be impossible for the grain to pack into an arch above the feed-roller, and it will be fed evenlyand smoothly down ,upon the feed-roller, and the ribbed feed-roller will operate to feed the grain down evenly and steadily through the bottom of the hopper into the cups of the conveyer-belt. The metal box or casting not only furnishes bearings for the shafts, but also serves to protect the miterwheels from becoming clogged with the grain, which would occur if they were unprotected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination, with the hopper, of the metal box secured upon the cross-beam in the.

same, the perpendicular shaft having the bent end'or endsand curved transverse arms at either itslower or upper end, or at both, and

, having the central miter-wheel and the trans:

verse shaft formed with the cranks, and having the miter-wheel on its inner end, and means, substantially as described, for rotating the transverse shaft. I

2. The combination, with the hopper, of the perpendicular shaft having the-miter-wheel on its central part and formed with the bent end or ends, and provided with the curved transverse arms at either its lower or upper end, or at both, and the two transverse shafts formed with the cranks and having the miter- 6 wheels at their inner ends, and means, substantially as set forth, for rotating one of the said transverse shafts.

3. The combination, with the hopper, of the ribbed feed-roller having the pulley on the outer end of its shaft, the metal box secured upon the cross-beam above the saidfeed-roller, the perpendicular shaft having the bent end or ends, and the, curved transverse arms at either its lower or upper end, or at both, and

having the miter-wheel secured upon it at its center, the transverse shaft having the miterwheel upon its inner end and the pulley on its outer end, and the drive-belts, substantially as set forth. 8o

4. The combination, with ahopper, of the ribbed feed-roller having the pulley on the outer end of its shaft, the metal box secured upon the cross-beam abovcthe said feed-roller,

the perpendicular shaft having the bent end 8 r or ends, and the curved transverse arms at either its lower or upper end, or at both, and having the central miter-wheel, the transverse shaft formed with the cranks and having the miter-wheel upon its inner end and the pulley 9o upon its outer end, andthe drive-belts, substantiall y as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the hopper, of the ribbed feed-roller. having the pulley on theouter end of its shaft, the metal box secured upon the cross-beam above the said feed-roller, the perpendicular shaft having the bent end or ends, and the curved transverse arms at either its lower or upper end, or at both, and

having the central miter-wheel and the two :00 transverse shafts formed with the cranks, and

having the miter -whcels upon their inner ends, the pulley upon the outer end of one of the said transverse shafts, and the drive'belts,

substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the hopper, of the ribbed feed-roller having the pulley on its shaft, the perpendicular shaft having the bent end or ends and the curved transverse arms at either its upper or lower end, or at both, and I'IC having the central miter-wheel, and the two transverse shafts formed with the cranks and having the miter-wheels upon their inner ends, the pulley upon the outer end' of one of the said transverse shafts, and the drive-belts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto 'aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SOLOMON M. GRAUMLIOH.

WVitnesses:

ELISHA WARNER, \VILLIAM H. GRAUMLIOH. 

